ARGYLL & THE ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

The following are the funds approved in the month ended MAY 2003. Approval simply means that AIE funds have been made available, but does not guarantee that the project or activity will go ahead. The funds will not be released until the applicant produces evidence that the project has gone ahead.

GROWING BUSINESSES

CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME is the financial assistance provided, normally by way of grant, to stimulate new business projects or expansions. 5 businesses which expect to invest a total of £1,219,300 from their own resources in setting up or expanding their operation had assistance totalling £523,600 with the prospect of 135 jobs created or retained. The jobs created or retained figure is forecast, agreed between AIE and the business concerned, of the jobs created or retained as a result of the AIE investment.

Business development

Total cost

Assistance approved

CD & CJ MacAffer, Islay

£30,300

£10,600

Access platform, paint sprayer, washer etc (Ref 1542/1)

   

John Street Studio, Oban

£6,100

£1,500

Purchase fine art printer (Ref 1539/1)

   

Murray Smoked Products, Ford

£10,000

£3,000

Purchase smoking kiln (Ref 1538/1)

   

Vestas Celtic Wind Technology Ltd, Machrihanish

£1,367,000

£225,500

Development of business to manufacture and assemble V80 wind turbines (Ref 1385/2)

 

EU funding £184,500

(HIE Efficiency)

Otter Ferry Seafish Ltd, Otter Ferry (Ref 1130/4)

   

Installation of water treatment and re-circulation unit

£330,000

£99,000

5 cases

Capital Investment programme approvals -

£523,600

 

Year to date

£627,900

 

Private monies raised

£1,553,200

 

Jobs created or retained

163.5

 

HIE STARTS – Programme of assistance to eligible individuals starting a new business. Support is provided in a number of ways including business advice, business planning, business start-up workshops and financial support. In May, eight individuals were awarded fortnightly allowances amounting to a maximum of £3,000 paid over an average period of 48 weeks. Funding is also available to assist with fixed capital expenditure associated with business start-up, up to a maximum of £500. 60% of funding for this programme comes from the AIE budget and 40% from the European Regional Development Fund. Approval of assistance has been given but the business may not yet be in a position to start trading.

Applicant

Business

Total Allowance

Capital Grant

Martin Catlin, Rothesay

Landscaping and gardening maintenance

£3,000

£500

Keith Oversby, Easdale island

Engineering consultancy

£2,700

£500

Christopher Jones, Tobermory

Tours of Mull

£1,500

-

Julie Jennings, Ardfern

Reiki relaxation

£1,500

£140

Andrew Hair, Port Bannatyne

Carpet and tile fitter

£3,000

£180

Laura Robertson, Tarbert

Bodysmart, keep fit

£1,200

£410

Joanne MacDonald, Ardrishaig

Spudzzeria, café

£2,700

£500

Lewis Ballantine, Tighnabruaich

Evinu.com, therapist

£2,700

£500

 

GROWING BUSINESS PROJECTS - consultancy and feasibility studies etc.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

   

Labour market information study for Kintyre (Ref 30158)

£30,000

£30,000

Integrin Advanced Biosystems, Barcaldine

   

Technical consultancy (Ref 30151)

£12,000

£6,000

PROPERTY – expenditure approved for direct provision of commercial or industrial property.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

   

Additional expenditure prior to adoption of Arran sewerage scheme (Ref BFQ/21/26)

£30,000

£30,000

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL – funding to projects which repair or renew the physical environment.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and Bute Council

   

Assistance toward street furniture provision at The Avenue car park, Inveraray (Ref 29942)

£20,000

£10,000

 

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – assistance to community based projects to develop community strengths, leadership and confidence, enhance the quality of the environment and culture, and promote investment in community services and assets.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Innellan & Toward Family Centre, Cowal (Ref 30126)

   

Upgrade of indoor and outdoor playground area

£8,875

£2,735

Cowal Youth Piping and Drumming Association

   

Purchase of uniforms for new novice band (Ref 30209)

£24,744

£9,909

Tiree Community Business

   

Interpretation/marketing initiative phase I (Ref 29971)

£4,500

£4,500

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - a European Funded programme to enhance community capacity through training and skills which will enable
communities to develop and implement their own local priorities.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Mull Theatre, Dervaig

   

Attendance at Scottish Arts Council Funding course

£2,106

European CED £839

Comunn Birlinn, Isle of Luing

   

Attend and exhibit at International Festival of the Sea, Leith

£611

European CED £200

Arran Community Development Company

   

Facilitation assistance to define aims and objectives

£1,445

European CED £1,445

Jura Development Trust

   

Facilitation assistance re sustainable new tearoom

£650

European CED £650

Arran Council for Voluntary Services

   

Programme of information and training events for community groups

£1,738

European CED £700

 

SKILLS & SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS TRAINING GRANTS - discretionary assistance towards training and
development of companies to enhance the skill levels of staff, linked to
their business objectives.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Homestart Lorne, Oban – as company training plan

£5,134

£2,054

Adam Fire Engineers & Consultants, Oban – as company training plan

£6,407

£2,563

D & J Campbell, North Connel – as company training plan

£8,528

£2,558

Edwina Valero, Dunoon – body piercing course

£460

£115

Peter Campbell, Tarbert – pesticide training

£760

£190

Craig MacAffer, Islay – powered access training

£1,210

£320

Seatrek Training, Lochgilphead – first aid & navigation

£6,065

£2,426

Carmichael Marine, Campbeltown – BS welding

£2,094

£1,046

Keith Oversby, Easdale island – update knowledge on nuclear power

£500

£125

Sam Ford, Lochgilphead – nail art and waxing

£1,300

£325

SKILLSEEKERS - School Leavers are issued with Skillseekers bond which they may use to pay for training leading to a recognised vocational qualification (VQs) either within employment or with a training provider. Delays in reporting result in us giving below details of qualifications achieved in April 2003.

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 3 MA

Anna Griffin, Dunoon

Travel services

Level 2

Stephanie Bell, Oban

Customer service

 

Claire Bennie, Oban

Food & drink manufacturing operations

 

Sonia Burgess, Oban

Food & drink manufacturing operations

TRAINING FOR WORK (TFW) - training for 18 –64 year olds who have been unemployed for more than 6 months. Delays in reporting result in us giving below details of qualifications achieved in April 2003.

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 3

Ben Lumsden, Lochgoilhead

Outdoor education

Level 2

Edward Watling, Oban

Information technology

Level 1

Malcolm MacDonald, Oban

Information technology

 

William MacIver, Lochgilphead

European Computer Driving License

In addition, we are advised that one previous participant on the scheme has obtained a job.

 

SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT – assistance for projects, principally in the Tourism, e-Business and Food & Drink sectors.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Isle of Bute Jazz Festival

   

16th Annual Isle of Bute Jazz Festival (Ref 30123)

£62,550

£3,000

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise (Ref 30379)

   

Campbeltown town centre redevelopment initiative

£11,100

£11,100

Tarbert Enterprise Company (Ref 30261)

   

Shore based activities at Tarbert Scottish Series

£26,000

£7,500

Mull & Iona Community Trust

   

Mull & Iona Wildlife Week 2003 (Ref 30170)

£8,600

£3,000

Highland Rail Partnership

   

Highland Rail Partnership project 2003 (Ref 28775)

£92,400

£5,500

EVENTS & FESTIVALS – funding support towards small events and festivals to enhance the attraction of the area to visitors.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Kyles of Bute Music Festival Association, Bute

   

Kyles of Bute Music Festival 2003

£2,400

£1,000

Eilean Eisdeal Trust

   

Eilean Eisdeal Arts Programme

£6,355

£930

HIE e-BUSINESS – programme designed to stimulate the adoption of e-commerce amongst SMEs by providing independent advice and grant assistance and raising the profile of successful e-business adopters in the area. 55% of funding comes from the AIE budget and 45% from the European Regional Development Fund.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Easdale People, Easdale

   

E-commerce web site

£2,200

£1,100

Argyll Connections, Dunbeg

   

New web site

£6,712

£1,342

 

..... ends

For further information contact:

Mandy Crompton

Argyll & the Islands Enterprise

Tel: 01546 602281

Email: m.crompton@hient.co.uk

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